Rotatable load supporting or lifting device



J. BRESLAV Nov. 21, 1961 ROTATABLE LOAD SUPPORTING OR LIFTING DEVICE Filed July 1'7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 llp" ATTORNEYS lll lllllllllllllllflwll 7 IIIH I II Nov. 21, 1961 J. BRESLAV 3,009,728

ROTATABLE LOAD SUPPORTING OR LIFTING DEVICE Filed July 17, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR a ATTORNEYS 3,609,728 ROTATABLE LOAD SUPPORTING R LHTING DEVHCE Jack Breslav, 12 Vista Terrace, New Haven, Conn. Filed July 17, 1958, Ser. No. 749,146 8 Claims. (Cl. 294-82) This invention relates to a rotatable load supporting or lifting device and more particularly to a device for lifting loads and transporting them from place to place.

In devices of this character a lifting device is provided which may itself be supported from a crane hook or the like so that it may be raised and lowered as well as moved from place to place. The lifting device normally includes a hook or equivalent mechanism by which a grapple, sling or other device may be carried to which the load is attached. it will be obvious that, as the approach to the load may be made from any position and as the attaching hook can only receive the bail or other device attached to the load in one position, it is desired that the hook itself be rotatable relatively to the frame of the supporting means in order that the hook may face in the proper direction to latch upon the load to be transported. Therefore, in the present mechanism the hook is rotatably mounted and power means is provided to rotate it together with a speed-reducing gearing so that it may be rotated at a low speed.

Also it is desirable that the hook itself be mounted so that it may rotate or pivot about an axis arranged transversely to the plane of the hook so that it may be tilted in the proper direction to receive the sling or other device by which the load is carried. According to the construction of the present application, a member is rotatably mounted in a frame adapted to be carried by a crane or the like, which rotatable or swiveled member is provided with a clevis in which the hook is pivotally supported so that the hook may be tilted pivotally with respect to this rotatable member.

Also as presently illustrated, the speed-reduction device consists of a worm gear and worm shaft in engagement therewith, the worm gear being of high efiiciency. While driven in one direction by a motor, it may be turned in the other direction by a power exerted on the load itself. Further in the present construction a friction clutch is located on the worm shaft which is the high-speed shaft so that a small clutch may be employed which will drive the worm under ordinary conditions but which will allow slippage between the motor and the worm when the load meets with obstruction or is prevented from rotating from other causes.

it is sometimes necessary, when supporting a grapple or similar load-engaging device from the swivel hook, to provide motor-operated means on such device for balancing the load when lifted or moving parts of the grapple for other reasons. Provision has been made in the present structure for delivering electric current to the motor on the grapple or other device from a junction box or other outlet upon the support,and the arrangement is such that the outlet provided on the support will rotate with the hook so that the electrical wiring running from the outlet to the device carried by the hook will not become entangled or twisted.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved load-supporting device of simple construction and one which may be conveniently and efficiently used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a loadsupporting device having a swiveled or rotatable member provided with a clevis at its lower end and a load-carrying hook pivotally secured to the clevis so that the hook may tilt with respect to the rotatable member about an axis transverse to the general plane of the hook itself.

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Still another object of the invention is to provide a load-lifting device comprising a frame having a swivel book rotatably supported therein and means including speed-reducing gearing for rotating said hook, the speedreducing gearing being of simple form and rotatable in either direction.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a rotatable loadsupporting device embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional View on line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail section through the clutch mechanism on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

. To illustrate one embodiment of my invention I have shown in the drawings a load-lifting mechanism having a frame consisting of substantially parallel side plates 10 and 11 in the upper portion of which a plurality of pulleys 12 are rotatably supported on the axle 13 so that the device may be supported by a crane or the like by means of cables 14 trained about these pulleys.

Between the frame members 10 and 11 and adjacent the lower ends thereof is secured a base or body member 15 within which is rotatably mounted a shank or shaft 16, the latter being supported by thrust bearings 17 and held in position by the nut 18.

At the lower end of the shank 16 is a clevis 19 between the forks of which is pivotally carried a hook 20 by means of the transverse pin 21. With this construction it will be seen that the hook, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, may pivot about the axis of the pin 21 with respect to the shank 16, the hook pivoting or swinging in its own plane, but about an axis substantially transverse to this plane.

Secured to the shank 16 of the hook is a gear 22 (FIGS. 1 and 2), the teeth of which are engaged by those of a pinion 23 carried by a vertical shaft 24 rotatably mounted in bearings 25 carried by a gear box 26. Upon the shaft 2 is secured a worm gear 27 which, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, engages a Worm 28 upon the worm shaft 2-9 rotatably mounted in the gear box 26 in a substantially horizontal position.

As shown more especially in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shaft 29 extends outwardly beyond the support or box 26, and upon its projecting end is keyed a hub 30 upon which are mounted cooperating clutch plates 31 and 32,

which are keyed to the hub. Between the clutch plates is loosely mounted a sprocket wheel 33. The plate 31 bears against a shoulder 34 on the hub 34) at one side of the sprocket wheel while the plate 32 at the other side of the sprocket wheel is urged toward the plate 31 by a dished spring member 35 secured to the nut 36 threadedly mounted upon the hub 30. With this arrangement it will be seen that normally the sprocket 33 will be clutched to the Worm shaft 29 by pressure of the spring 35 on the clutch plate 32, but will permit slipping of the sprocket wheel upon the hub 30 when rotation of the shaft 29 meets undue resistance.

Trained about the sprocket wheel 33 is a sprocket chain 38 actuated by the shaft 39 of the motor 4 This motor is carried upon a base plate 41 secured to the lower portions of the frame members 10 and 11, and the gear box 26 is also supported upon this member, as shown in FIG. 1. It may also be noted that the side frame ltl is cut away, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, at its lower end adjacent the base plate 41 to permit the motor and gear box to project beyond this frame. Also the base plate 41 projects beyond the frame parts 10 and 11, as shown in FIG. 2, to support a housing 42 enclosing the working parts of the device. The gear 22 and pinion 23 are mounted below the base plate 41 and between the lower edges of the sides of the housing 42, which edges extend downwardly below the base plate.

As previously noted, it is sometimes desirable to provide an outlet for electric connections to apparatus carried by the book 20. To this end a plate 43 is mounted upon the side plate 11 and braced therefrom by the bracket 44. This plate carries two upright pins 45 (FIGS. 1 and 3) upon each of which is mounted a series of brushes 46. Each of these brushes has a free end portion 47 adapted to engage collector rings 43 mounted on a spool 49 of insulating material carried by a hollow sleeve 50 secured to and extending upwardly from the shank 16 of the swivel 19.

Wires 51 extend from the collector rings into the sleeve 50 and extend downwardly through a passage 52 in the shank 16, the passage 52 being provided for this purpose. An outlet 54 is provided in the clevis 19 communicating with the passage 52 through which outlet the wires are brought to a receptacle 55 into which a cable 56 may be plugged to carry current to any device supported upon the hook 20. With this arrangement it will be seen that the outlet box 55 which is carried upon the gear 22 will rotate with the shank 16 of the hook and, as any device carried by the hook will also rotate, there will be no likelihood of the cable 56 being twisted or fouling parts of the apparatus. The spool 49 will, of course, also rotate with the shank 16 relatively to the brushes 46 which are earried upon theside frame Wire's 58 lead from these brushes to a junction box 59 also carried upon the frame for delivery of current to the brushes. A cord or cable 60 is provided to carry the current from this junction box to the motor 4%.

It will be apparent that by the above structure there is provided a swivel hook which may be rotated about a vertical axis by convenient and compact mechanism and which is supported by a clevis so that it may swing or pivot about an axis transverse to its own plane. Also provision is made for carrying current from the relatively stationary frame through the rotatable shank of the hook and delivering it to any device which may be carried by the hook and rotatable therewith. The provision of the clutch on the high-speed or worm gear shaft permits the use of a small clutch which may be compactly mounted upon the driving shaft and the worm gear construction permits reversal of its motion so that when a rotating force is applied to the hook or load, the worm wheel 27 may be reversely rotated.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation Within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims,

What I claim is: t

l. A lifting device comprising, a frame, means for vertically supporting said frame, a supporting member fixedly attached to the lower portion of said frame, a clevis extending below said supporting member and said frame, said clevis having a shank portion rotatably mounted in said supporting member for rotation about a vertical axis, a hook pivotal-1y supported from said clevis so that said hook can be rotated and tilted without rotating and tilting said supporting member, and means for rotating said clevis about said vertical axis including, a gear secured to said shank portion below said supporting member, a pinion engaging said gear for driving said gear, and power means mounted on said frame and having said pinion attached thereto for driving said pinion.

2. A lifting device having a frame and at least one pulley for vertically supporting the frame, said device comprising, a supporting member fixedly attached to the lower portion of the frame, a shank member rotatably mounted in said supporting member and extending below said supporting member andthe frame, said shank member mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a hook pivotally supported from said shank member at the lower end thereof and below said supporting member so that said hook can be rotated and tilted without rotating and tilting said supporting member, and means for rotating said shank member about said vertical axis including, a gear secured to said shank member below said supporting member, a pinion engaging said gear for driving said gear, and power means mounted on the frame and having said pinion attached thereto for driving said pinion.

3. A lifting device comprising, a frame, means for vertically supporting said frame, a supporting member fixedly attached to the lower portion of said frame, a clevis extending below said supporting member and said frame, said clevis having a shank portion rotatably mounted in said supporting member for rotation about a vertical axis, a transverse pivot pin carried by said clevis, a hook pivotally mounted on said pin so that said hook can be rotated and tilted without rotating and tilting said supporting member, and means for rotating said olevis about said vertical axis including, a gear secured to said shank portion below said supporting member, a pinion engaging said gear for driving said gear, and power means mounted on said frame and having said pinion attached thereto for driving said pinion.

4. A lifting device comprising, a frame having spaced side plates, means adjacent the upper end of said side plates for vertically supporting said frame, a supporting member fixedly attached to the lower ends of said plates, at clevis extending below said supporting member and said frame, said clevis having a shank portion rotatably mounted in said supporting member for rotation about a vertical axis,- a hook pivotally supported from said clevis so that said book can be rotated and tilted without rotating and tilting said supporting member, and means for rotating said clevis about said vertical axis including, a gear secured to said shank portion below said supporting member, a pinion engaging said gear for driving said gear, and power means mounted on said frame and having said pinion attached thereto for driving said pinion.

5. A lifting device comprising, a frame, means for vertically supporting said frame, a supporting member fixedly attached to the lower portion of said frame, a clevis extending below said supporting member and said frame, said clevis having a shank portion rotatably mounted in said supporting member for rotation about a vertical axis, said shank portion having an opening extending therethrough, a hook pivotally supported from said clevis so that said hook can be rotated and tilted without rotating and tilting said supporting member, means for rotating said clevis about said vertical axis including, a gear secured to said shank portion below said supporting member, an electrical outlet box carried by said gear, conducting members leading from said outlet box and extending through the opening in said shank portion, collector rings secured to the upper end of said shank portion to which said conducting members are connected, and brushes carried by the frame and engaged with said collector rings.

6. A lifting device comprising, a frame, means for vertically supporting said frame, a supporting member fixedly attached to the lower portion of said frame, a clevis extending below said supporting member and said frame, said clevis having a shank portion rotatably mounted in said supporting member for rotation about a vertical axis, said shank portion having an opening extending therethrough, a hook pivotally supported from said clevis so that said hook can be rotated and tilted without rotating and tilting said supporting member, means for rotating said clevis about said vertical axis including, a gear secured to said shank portion below said supporting member, an electrical outlet box carried by the rotatably mounted shank portion and gear assembly for rotation therewith, conducting members leading from said outlet box and extending through the opening in said shank portion, collector rings secured to the upper end of said shank portion to which said conducting members are connected, and brushes carried by the frame and engaged with said collector rings. 7

7. A lifting device having a frame and at least one pulley for vertically supporting the frame, said device comprising, a supporting member fixedly attached to the lower portion of the frame, a shank member rotatably mounted in said supporting member and extending below said supporting member and the frame, said shank member mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and having an opening extending therethrough, a hook pivotally supported from said shank member atthe lower end thereof and below said supporting member so that said hook can be rotated and tilted without rotating and tilting said supporting member, means for rotating said shank member about said vertical axis including, a gear secured to said shank member below said supporting member, an electrical outlet box carried by the rotatably mounted shank member and gear assembly for rotation therewith, conducting members leading from said outlet box through the opening in said shank member, collector rings secured to the upper end of said shank member to which said conducting members are connected, and brushes carried by the frame and engaged with said collector rings.

8. A lifting device comprising, a frame, means for vertically supporting said frame, a supporting member fixedly attached to the lower portion of said frame, a

clevis extending below said supporting member and said frame, said clevis having a shank portion rotatably mounted in said supporting member for rotation about a vertical axis, a hook pivotally supported from said clevis so that said hook can be rotated and tilted without rotating and tilting said supporting member, means for rotating said clevis about said vertical axis including, a gear secured to said shank portion below said Supporting member, an electrical outlet box carried by said gear to rotate therewith, and means for delivering electrical current to said outlet box from a source on said frame com prising, brushes carried by said frame and connected to said source, collector rings secured to the upper end of said shank member and in contact with said brushes, said shank portion being hollow, and conducting members within the hollow shank portion and connected to said collector rings and to said electrical outlet box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 183,750 Clifiord' Oct. 31, 1876 2,433,938 Varner Jan. 6, 1948 2,524,189 Clay Oct. 3, 1950 2,823,944 Anderson et a1 Feb. 18, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 428,583 Germany Mar. 6, 1926 143,936 Great Britain Apr. 14, 1921 612,734 Great Britain Nov. 17, 1948 

